Dax: I don’t think I have much of a choice. I’m sure Harper would show up at my doorstep if I didn’t show. I’ll bring two three-foot subs. Don’t worry about cooking, let's just have a lazy day.
Loverboy: Aw, thanks, Daddy Dax! Always taking care of everyone. We will get some sides together here and pop.
Me: I’m off today, love. Let me know what to grab.
Loverboy: I’ll send you a list, Tuck. Thank you!
Wren: You guys are so cute!
Loverboy:
Reed: See you fuckers Friday.
Princess: You better show up in an ugly sweater, asshat.
Dax: Oh, he will. We match.
I was smiling to myself. Being a part of this little found family was everything to me. Nothing felt forced or uncomfortable. I just felt like I belonged. Best fucking feeling in the world.
Me: Boyfriends, coworkers, or roommates?
A reply came immediately from both of them.
Reed: Yes.
Dax: All of the above, clearly.
The rest of the group reacted to their text, and I left it at that.
As I began unpacking my belongings, turning Harper’s guest room into my room, Chap walked in, meowing and demanding love. I petted him and talked to him as if he would answer.
“Well, Chap, this is home now. We are finally home.”
42
HARPER
The one thing about my older brother is that helovedChristmas. And of course, instead of wearing an actual ugly sweater, he wore one to match Dax’s. Reed’s sweater was green and covered in embroidered snowflakes and stringed lights. The front of his sweater read, “I come in Peace”. Dax’s sweater was the same design, but in red, which said, “Hi, I’m Peace” across the chest.So, fucking ridiculous.Truthfully, no one had crazy, ugly sweaters. Rather, everyone wore Christmas or winter-themed ones, which was totally fine, but I wanted to see something silly.
It was so nice to have everyone here. I loved the feeling of them being inourhome. Tucker was officially moved in, and Cam was working on it. He decided to rent out the house for basically nothing, but was still in the process of getting things out of it and cleaning it up while Wren and Reed worked with Tucker to buy his grandmother’s house. Moving out of the house would be a big adjustment for everyone because Cam bought it over a decade ago, and it has been the “go-to” house since he bought it.
I was sitting on the couch in front of the TV with Wren nextto me and Reed next to her, as Chaplin sat in my lap. He rarely left my side since they moved in. As we were chatting, eating, and watching the cartoon version of The Grinch, Wren’s pick, I felt an overwhelming wave of nausea hit. I gagged slightly, confused by the feeling. I knew I was nauseous, but I had been for a while because of stress. I swear Cam had a sixth sense for when I wasn’t well.
He wasn’t careful not to raise alarms and asked from the kitchen, “You okay, pink?”
All I could do was shake my head ‘no’, throw a hand over my mouth, and run to the bathroom. I’d have to apologize to the cat later for throwing him off my lap. Slamming the door behind me, I threw up. It was like a dam had broken, and the floodwaters came.
I closed the lid, flushed the toilet, and sat crisscrossed, resting my head in the palm of my hands. What the fuck was going on? Was I sick? There’s no way stress could cause this. Maybe? I racked my brain trying to figure out what was happening when I realized… I hadn’t had my period this month, and it was almost January. My eyes widened, and a hand flew to my arm. I could feel my birth control in my arm. There’s no way.
A knock at the door.
“Hmm?” I asked, trying not to panic. I didn’t care to lock the door.
“Sugar, you okay?” Tucker’s voice was low, much more discreet than Cameron’s.
I stood up slowly, making my way to the door. I opened the door and looked up at him. His brow immediately shot up at the sight of me. “What’s going on?”
I didn’t think before responding. “I’m not sure yet. I need to run upstairs. Cover for me?”
